Competition gun belt

Abstract

A gun belt for use in combat side arm competitions supports a side arm retaining boot. A fender extends from the gun belt and a depending shank to support the boot at a predetermined lateral and angular orientation with respect to the gun belt. The boot, of a composite structure bent back upon itself to define rearwardly extending skirts, is readily adjustable to vary the clamping force exertable upon the barrel of the side arm retained by the skirts. A bearing piece joins the opposed rear edges of the skirts without interfering with the integrity of the boot clamping function and provides a low friction bearing surface for rapid drawing of the side arm from the boot. Removable straps provide an option of physically locking the side arm within the boot.

We claim: 
     
       1. A competition gun belt assembly for supporting a side arm and having a gun belt supported shank, said assembly comprising in combination: a. a boot for retaining the side arm, said boot comprising a multi-layered structure bent along a forward bend line and defining two displaced skirts for exerting a clamping force upon the side arm inserted within said boot, said skirts being displaced from each other and extending rearwardly from the bend line, said multi-layered structure including an insert for maintaining said skirts in a generally coincident but displaced relationship;   b. means for adjustably limiting the displacement intermediate the rear edges of said skirts and regulating the clamping force exerted by said skirts;   c. a fender comprising a multi-layered composite for suspending said boot in fixed relationship to the gun belt, said fender including an upper end secured to the gun belt, a lower end secured to the shank and a bent center section laterally displaced from the belt and the shank being attachably connected to said boot, said multi-layered composite including an insert for maintaining the bent shape of said center section; and   d. a bearing piece disposed intermediate the rear edges of said pair of skirts for supporting the trigger guard of the side arm when the side arm is retained within said boot and allowing for guiding of the barrel of the side arm during withdrawal of the side arm from said boot.   
     
     
       2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bearing piece is of low friction material. 
     
     
       3. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said limiting and regulating means comprises a flap extending from one of said skirts across the rear edges of both of said skirts to the other of said skirts and includes infinitely adjustable attachment means for attaching said flap to said other skirt. 
     
     
       4. The assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein top, rear and bottom edges of one of said skirts are displaced from commensurate top, rear and bottom edges of the other of said skirts. 
     
     
       5. A competition gun belt assembly for supporting a side arm and having a gun belt supported shank, said assembly comprising in combination: a. a boot for retaining the side arm, said boot comprising a multi-layered structure bent along a forward bend line and defining two displaced skirts for exerting a clamping force upon the side arm inserted within said boot, said skirts being displaced from each other and extending rearwardly from the bend line;   b. means for adjustably limiting the displacement intermediate the rear edges of said skirts and regulating the clamping force exerted by said skirts;   c. a fender for suspending said boot in fixed relationship to the gun belt, said fender including an upper end secured to the gun belt, a lower end secured to the shank and a bent center section laterally displaced from the belt and the shank being attachably connected to said boot; and   d. a bearing piece disposed intermediate the rear edges of said pair of skirts for supporting the trigger guard of the side arm when the side arm is retained within said boot and allowing for guiding of the barrel of the side arm during withdrawal of the side arm from said boot.   
     
     
       6. The assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said bearing piece is of low friction material. 
     
     
       7. A boot mountable upon a gun belt for retaining a side arm, said boot comprising in combination: a. a composite structure folded upon itself along a forward bend line to define two skirts, each of said two skirts having a top edge, a rear edge and a bottom edge displaced from and unconnected to the corresponding top, rear and bottom edges of the other skirt;   b. a bearing piece attached intermediate said skirts in proximity to the rear edges of said skirts for supporting the trigger guard of the side arm during withdrawal of the side arm;   c. resilient means disposed within said composite structure for exerting a clamping force upon the barrel of the side arm inserted intermediate said skirts;   d. means for adjustably limiting the maximum displacement intermediate the rear edges of said skirts to regulate the clamping force exerted by said resilient means; and   e. means for attaching said boot to the gun belt.   
     
     
       8. The boot as set forth in claim 7 wherein said resilient means comprises a sheet of resilient metal. 
     
     
       9. The boot as set forth in claim 8 wherein said sheet of metal is of a planform equivalent to the planform of said composite structure but of a reduced size. 
     
     
       10. The boot as set forth in claim 9 wherein said composite structure includes two layers of leather for enveloping said sheet of metal therebetween. 
     
     
       11. The boot as set forth in claim 10 including removable strap means for locking the side arm within said boot. 
     
     
       12. The boot as set forth in claim 10 wherein said bearing piece is of low friction material. 
     
     
       13. The boot as set forth in claim 10 wherein said limiting and regulating means comprises a flap extending from one of said skirts across the rear edges of both of said skirts to the other of said skirts and includes infinitely adjustable attachment means for attaching said flap to said other skirt. 
     
     
       14. The boot as set forth in claim 10 wherein said attaching means comprises a fender secured to the gun belt, said fender defining an attachment point for said boot lateral to the gun belt.